It was reported previously that Universal Pictures was looking into Cuba, Russia and Iceland to serve as locations for their upcoming sequel Fast 8. Although the majority of filming is expected to take place in New York and Atlanta, Visir (via Iceland Review) repots that an Iceland shoot is indeed forthcoming, and that the increasingly globe-hopping franchise isn’t coming there for a Bjork concert but to blow up a significant chunk of the country.
According to the article, Mayor Regína Ásvaldsdóttir confirmed that her West Iceland harbor town of Akranes (sitting about 28 miles north of Reykjavík) will play host to Vin Diesel and company in April. The shooting will entail the “largest explosion ever in Iceland,” which is not hard to believe considering the increasing scope of destruction and mayhem in the Fast & Furious franchise. We wouldn’t expect any less from what has turned into a “James Bond-on-wheels” series, despite claims that part 8 could return the crew to their street-racing roots.
Vin Diesel announced Fast 8 at CinemaCon after the unprecedented success of Furious 7, which earned $1.515 billion at the worldwide box office. Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson and Kurt Russell are expected to return along with franchise regulars Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Elsa Pataky and Lucas Black reprising their roles as street racers-turned-international criminals-turned-super-secret agents.
To be directed by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton, The Italian Job), Universal Pictures will deliver Fast 8 for an April 14, 2017 release.
